After decades of shaping Indonesia’s entertainment landscape, ANTV Production Department’s closure marks a pivotal moment for the industry, as dozens of creative professionals prepare to bring their valuable expertise to new ventures in the evolving digital age of television production.
This coffee tastes more bitter than before.
This happened about 3 weeks ago.
I just sipping my coffee in the monday morning and my former colleague, Andy, send me a message.
“Bener nih om Antv (Produksi) dibubarin.”
“Bro, it’s true, ANTV Production has been dissolved.”
Lil bit shocked 😳, then i asked,
“Semuanya?”
“Is it the entire production team?”
“Semua nih, om. Ini lagi dikumpulin HCD.”
“Yes, everyone. HCD (HR) is gathering them all right now.”
Later, I told him to stay calm and hoped there would be some good news in that unpleasant moment. I also suggested he listen carefully to what would be told, and hoped the payment would align with regulations.
Deep inside my heart, I am sad too, even though I moved to another division—Content Management and Distribution Department as a Content Marketing Specialist—two years ago. 😥
The news spread faster than a rocket.
The next day, I received several Instagram DMs. Many friends reached out to ask about the rumors or to check if I was affected. (Thank you, friends! 😃) I also learned that one of my respected former colleagues, Dian Akbar, had made a TikTok video about this news that went viral. You can check out the video below. He is a talented and creative professional whom I’m confident will emerge stronger from this heartbreaking event.
The End of an Era?
Before ANTV Production was affected by this disruption in the media industry, news had already spread widely about NET TV’s acquisition by MD Entertainment1, which impacted many employees.
We have to know that both ANTV and NET TV is a free-to-air (FTA) Television. Free-to-air (FTA) refers to television broadcasting that is transmitted without any subscription fees or encryption, allowing viewers to access the content freely with a basic antenna.
Though Digital FTA is free, it offers viewers superior HD image and sound quality compared to analog broadcasting. Viewers also gain access to features like EPG (Electronic Program Guide), which shows program schedules for past and upcoming shows (Source: televisiku.com2). Despite these advantages, FTA organizations face significant disruption in today’s market.
We have to admit it: content consumption habits, especially for video, are changing dramatically. As a millennial who grew up watching MTV and occasionally skipped Sunday church to watch Doraemon, I now only turn to television for live football matches and breaking news. Even when seeking news updates, I now primarily get my information through online media portals like ussfeeds, creativox, ecommurz, and whatsupindonesia. After reading the Indonesia Millennial and Gen Z Report 20253, I discovered I’m not alone in this behavior—43% of Millennials and Gen Z find it easier to access information through social media platforms. When seeking entertainment, I rarely—if ever—look to traditional TV anymore. Instead, I search for content that feels relevant and personally meaningful, even if it means paying subscription fees.
“The global television industry is in the midst of a digital revolution. Online video has been spreading like wildfire, empowering consumers to watch what they want when they want it, sometimes cutting TV out of the equation altogether.”
What they want-when they want it.
*The fact is the piece paragraph above has written in 2016.
Yes, FTA organizations once monopolized content distribution and dictated trends before digital disruption, but now they face serious challenges. Not only many content creator offers a niche-raw-unpolished content that cater the personal demand of hypersegmented audience in social media, like Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok so many viewers prefer to watch digital online. But also nowadays, giant company like Netflix, Disney, Amazon, produce and distribute content that have a story that connect with local audience. “Gadis Kretek” is one of the example. This series become first option for audience to see content that not only relate, but also has good production value that enjoy our watching experience.
5“Gadis Kretek has such deeply local storytelling, it’s truly our history. The content is unique with unmatched quality. The high production value is extraordinary. Its impact extends to tourism, the clothing, Jeng Yah’s kebayas – Gadis Kretek has become a cultural phenomenon. Even small kebaya businesses have seen growth,” says Putri Silalahi, Head of PR Netflix Indonesia.
Source.
First came social media, then OTT content like “Gadis Kretek.” FTA organizations now face numerous competitors in retaining existing audiences and acquiring new ones. They must continuously adapt and evolve in the digital space with greater effort and speed. I emphasize the word “continuously” because during my time in this department, they weren’t standing still. They recognized this disruption and kept trying to adapt to the situation, searching for the right formula.
The end is the beginning is the end
While the optimism seems evaporate. Still, there are reasons to optimism.
“In most markets, FTA broadcasters retain strong brands, long-standing relationships with advertisers and production houses, and capabilities in content sourcing and distribution. Many also have valuable content libraries. This is a solid platform from which to build.”6
Yes, they have extensive valuable content in their library. There are many potential assets that could be used to create great content. They could explore repurposing content—not just for snackable videos, but also for long-form content.
Before concluding this post, I want to write a thank you letter to my previous department that has given me so many experiences, valuable knowledge, and mental fortitude.
Dear ANTV Production Department,
With gratitude, Albertus Krisna
Your mentorship and support have made my journey in broadcasting truly remarkable. Thank you for sharing your expertise and passion for creating exceptional content. The memories and skills I’ve gained will always be treasured.
- https://www.tempo.co/ekonomi/net-tv-menjelma-jadi-mdtv-pasca-diakuisisi-pt-md-entertainment-milik-manoj-punjabi-1171699 ↩︎
- https://televisiku.com/2019/04/13/tentang-tv-digital/ ↩︎
- https://cdn.idntimes.com/content-documents/indonesia-millennial-genz-report-2025.pdf ↩︎
- https://www.bcg.com/publications/2016/media-entertainment-digital-revolution-disrupting-tv-industry ↩︎
- https://www.idntimes.com/hype/entertainment/erfah-nanda-2/gadis-kretek-jadi-series-lokal-berpengaruh-di-netflix-global-2023?page=all ↩︎
- https://www.kearney.com/industry/technology/article/-/insights/free-to-air-broadcasting-navigating-digital-disruption ↩︎
